Darbar Sahib but nothing has been done in this regard.
It is ironic that the SGPC has a 'rich history' of passing resolutions but a
'poor record' of implementing it. The approach of successive presidents of the SGPC on this matter is highly regrettable. Under pressure or not, the SGPC is in a denial mood. Denials are already being thrust on us. It is to counter such denials that we needed the memorial to the martyrs of army assault. We were promised one, and we have been denied one ironically by those who claim to represent us.
In order to press upon the SGPC and SAD leadership to build memorial of June 1984 martyrs, party activists held 72 hours sit-in protest at outside the main entrance gate of Darbar Sahib Complex from June 3 to 6 this year.
A jatha of 100 activists led by party head H S Dhami begin their silent protest outside the SGPC offices on June 3 at 11 AM. To avoid any inconvenience to devotees, the activists seated in a park situated right in front of entrance gate of SGPC premises while displaying placards and hoardings to send their message across the Sikh masses.
Addressing the media over there, party head urged Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar to break the silence and take the lead as it was high time to lay the foundation stone of the memorial as the Sikh Nation is observing the 26th anniversary of Darbar Sahib on June 6.
Stressing on the need to build memorial, he said by raising the memorial in
memory of ‘martyrs of the faith’, the SGPC would not only deliver a sense of
pride and fraternity to their families but also goads the Sikhs to relive
those times. Also it will be a rebuttal to those, who have been trying to
erase this period from public memory. Activists mostly youngsters from Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr and Moga participated in the sit-in to show their steadfastness towards the cause and also to pay homage to martyrs.
On the concluding day (June 6) of its 72 hours sit-in protest, the organization vowed to take the June 84 memorial issue to its logical conclusion. H S Dhami said it’s a beginning of the struggle. Our aim was to pay tribute to the ‘martyrs of faith’ and bring the issue of memorial into limelight, which we had succeeded. He said the silence of Akali leadership about memorial to 1984 martyrs even after 26 years of the deadly attack was disgusting and disappointing.
Party’s senior most leader Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib ended his 72 hours fast after performing Ardas at Akal Takht by eating karah parshad.
Family members of martyrs including wife and son of Bhai Amrik Singh who was
no 2 after Sant Jarnail Singh joined sit-in to express their solidarity with
the cause. KAC chairman Bhai Mohkam Singh, SAD (Panch Pardani) leader Harpal Singh Cheema, Balwinder Singh Chabbal & Kulbir Singh Barapind, SSF head Parmjit Singh Gazi, Manjit singh Bhoma and SYP head Gurpreet singh Mann beside Dal Khalsa leaders were present during ardas. Satnam Singh looked in high spirits despite observing hunger strike for 72 hours.
‘POSTER WAR’
Earlier on June 1, a poster campaign was also launched posing certain
questions to the SGPC and the ruling SAD regarding their indifferent
approach towards the status of martyrs.
In its first question, the Dal Khalsa asked the SGPC president to answer as
to why the resolution adopted in the executive committee of the SGPC on Feb
20, 2002 has not yet been implemented. The second question asks when the
SGPC would honour its own decision to build memorial and do justice to
martyrs.
Why SGPC is dithering from constructing the memorial which would have
depicted unparalleled repression let loose by the Congress? Is not the SGPC
hobnobbing with the Congress?
Third question relates to insensitivity of the SGPC and SAD towards issues
related to martyrs of June 1984. It has also posed a question to Jathedar
Avtar Singh Makkar to reveal under whose pressure he has brushed the crying
demand of the community under the carpet? Do you think that the desire to
build memorial is confined only to hardliners? Has not the martyrs
sacrificed their lives for the collective pride and honour of the community
and faith? Is this not the issue that relates to the collective conscience
of the Sikh Panth?